According to officials, more than 900 people were injured at the site of the accident.
PM Modi has convened a meeting to review the situation in relation to the rail tragedy.
How did the triple train crash happen?
The accident happened when several coaches of the 12864 Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, on the way to Howrah, derailed and fell on adjacent tracks.
These derailed coaches later collided with the 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and its coaches capsized too.
Another goods train was also involved in the accident as some of the coaches of the Coromandel Express, which were heading to Chennai, hit its wagons after getting derailed.
According to officials, the railway tracks were almost destroyed at the spot as mangled coaches lay strewn over with some having mounted on another.
A few coaches also turned turtle due the impact.
The train crash, the fourth deadliest in India, happened near the Bahanaga Baazar station in Balasore district, about 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar, around 7 pm on Friday.
Here is a look at the top developments in the story so far –
Railway ministerorders high-level probe
Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has ordered a high-level probe into the accident. He visited the train accident site and said that the main focus now is rescue and relief operations.
“A detailed high-level inquiry will be conducted and the rail safety commissioner will also do an independent inquiry,” Vaishnaw said.
“Restoration will begin after clearance from the district administration,” he added.
Rescue teams have been mobilised from Odisha’s Bhubaneswar and Kolkata in West Bengal, he said in a tweet late on Friday.
Additionally, three National Disaster Response Force teams are at the site of the accident, and six more teams are being mobilised, the country’s National Disaster Response Force said.
PM Modi to chair review meet
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has convened a meeting to review the situation in relation to the rail accident, sources in the government informed on Saturday.
CM Patnaik visits site of accident
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik on Saturday visited the site of the train crash to take stock of the situation on ground.
He declared one-day state mourning in the wake of the deadly triple train crash.
IAF deploys Mi-17 helicopters for evacuation
The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Saturday deployed Mi-17 helicopters for the evacuation of deceased and injured in the Odisha triple train accident.
According to the Eastern Command, IAF is coordinating the rescue efforts with the civil administration and Indian Railways.
Bengal CM to visit train accident site
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee will visit the train accident site in Balasore in neighbouring Odisha on Saturday.
“She is quite worried and will be flying to Balasore today to take stock of the situation. She has also spoken to Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik in this regard. She was in touch with the team which she sent to Balasore last night,” the bureaucrat told news agency PTI.
Rescue operations continue
Rescue operations are under way at the crash site in full swing.
Officials in Bhubaneswar said 200 ambulances, 50 buses and 45 mobile health units were working at the accident site, besides 1,200 personnel.
The bodies were being taken to the hospitals in all kinds of vehicles, including tractors.
Gas cutters were used to extricate the bodies from under the derailed coaches.
Disaster management personnel and firemen were busy at work trying to extricate bodies.
UNGA President condoles triple train crash
UN General Assembly President Csaba Korosi has expressed his deepest condolence to the families and the Government of India for the tragic train crash.
“I’m deeply saddened to hear the news of the train crash in Odisha, India. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and with the emergency services. Heartfelt condolences to the people and the Government of India,” Korosi, the President of the 77th session of the General Assembly tweeted.
Several trains cancelled, few diverted
Railway authorities on Saturday cancelled 49 trains, and diverted 38 trains onto a different route.
Even as rescue operations are under way at the site of the accident, 20 trains were also short-terminated in view of the incident.
The cause of the train accident is yet to be ascertained.
Helpline numbers
The Odisha government issued helpline 06782-262286. The railway helplines are 033-26382217 (Howrah), 8972073925 (Kharagpur), 8249591559 (Balasore) and 044- 25330952 (Chennai).
(With inputs from agencies)Watch Odisha train accident: Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inspects the spot, orders high-level probe
